Reporting by Hallie Gu and Shivani Singh Editing by David
Evans and David Goodman, Reuters

19 September 2019

BEIJING, Sept 19 (Reuters) - China has released 10,000
tonnes of pork from state reserves on Thursday to secure meat supply during the
National Day Holiday, the country's commerce ministry said, after disease
ravaged the world's largest pig herd.

Beijing also released 2,400 tonnes of beef and 1,900
tonnes of mutton from state reserves this month, according to a statement
published on the website of the Ministry of Commerce.

Pork prices have jumped sharply recently and demand for
the meat has fallen, the ministry said.

With a significant increase in meat imports and as the
volume of frozen meat in reserves remains high, supplies are secured, it added.

The ministry said it will continue to monitor supplies
and pork prices while coordinating with other government departments to release
meats from state reserves as required to guarantee supply in the market.

Pork prices in the world's top consumer hit record levels
after an epidemic of African swine fever that has resulted in a drastic cut to
output of its favourite meat.

The disease is not harmful to people but kills almost all
pigs infected.